Super Netball 2024: Team Girls Cup confirmed for Sydney in March 2024
NSW Swifts star Sophie Fawns says this year’s Team Girls Cup will be vital to her side’s grand final redemption plans, as they see the new-look teams in action at the pre-season tournament.
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NSW Swifts super shooter Sophie Fawns says this year’s Team Girls Cup, to be hosted in Sydney for the first time, is “vital” to her side’s redemption-year preparation because it will be the first chance to see the new-look teams in action.
Netball Australia confirmed on Wednesday the Super Netball round robin pre-season tournament would be held at Ken Rosewall Arena from March 22-24 and feature all eight teams, including latest addition the Melbourne Mavericks.
Reigning champions the Adelaide Thunderbirds will be first on the court against Melbourne Vixens in the opening clash. The Mavericks’ first match will be against the Firebirds.
With the long, drawn-out contract saga finally solved, teams have been able to hit the court and start pre-season training.
Fawns was part of the Swifts side that lost the grand final to Adelaide Thunderbirds last season.
While she was devastated by the loss, the 20-year-old has tried to put a positive spin on it and channel the disappointment into training.
“It was really tough,’ Fawns said. “Being quite young and it being my first grand final, I had a lot of nerves coming into the game and so did everyone else.
“Everyone really wants to win and there is only one winner. It just makes me more hungry for this year.”
With so many changes taking place over the off-season, Fawns said the Team Girls Cup was “vital” to get a look at the competition.
“Each individual player has their own strengths but to come together as a team is a totally different story,” Fawns said.
“It will be very interesting to see how each team goes. There has been a lot of movement, which will switch up the competition a bit.
“The Sunshine Coast Lightning have a few big names and the Mavs being a new team. It gives us all a bit of an advantage when it comes to season time.”
Giants Netball defender Matilda McDonell is soaking up the pre-season and marking down the days until the season starts on April 13.
She is the only defender left from last year’s poorly performing Giants squad.
“I don’t think I’ve been this excited for a season to start,” McDonell said.
“We’ve got a new roster and some fresh faces and it’s got a new vibe and it’s exciting for us.
“We didn’t have the best of seasons last year and for us it is our redemption year. We are going to give it our all this year.”
That will start at the Team Girls Cup.
“It is so valuable and it really lays the foundation for the season,” McDonell said.
“It is pretty rare to be able to just play back to back games and have that opportunity to build connections and combinations with your team and your unit.
“It is a really good opportunity for us, because we have new faces, to really jell and combine before the big stuff happens.”
McDonell is going to have one of the toughest jobs in the competition with so many top-class shooters.
“There isn’t going to be a week where you can rest a little bit because you will be up against a world-class shooter or a world-class goal attack or a combination of the two,” she said.
“It just goes to show that Super Netball is the best league in the world. It doesn’t make our job easy but it makes it exciting and fun because every week you have a new challenge.
“Every shooter has different strengths and weaknesses and it’s just learning how to work around them.”
The battle to play in the finals last season came down to the final game of the regular rounds.
McDonell said with the addition of a new team and so much movement, this season would be even closer.
“Anyone could win,” she said. “Every club and every roster is filled with incredible athletes from end to end, including the bench.
“I think it’s going to be an interesting season to watch and even more exciting than it was last season.”
Tickets go on sale on February 7 via Ticketek.
Adult tickets start at $15 and children 14 and under can attend sessions across the weekend for free if tickets are bought before March 8.
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Originally published as Super Netball 2024: Team Girls Cup confirmed for Sydney in March 2024
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